African American Poetry (1870-1928): A Digital Anthology

Waring Cuney, "Murder Blues" (1928)

Headlines in de papers,
Lou done killed her man.
Headlines in de papers,
Lou done killed her man.
Court room was silent,
When de trail began.

De lawyers talked an' talked,
Dey tried to save her.
Dey talked an' talked an' talked,
Dey tried to save her.
A bad name was all,
De witness gave her.

Then Lou said, "Mister Judge,
'Ain't sorry he's dead.
Say Lou said, "Mister Judge,
'Ain't sorry he's dead.
Wish someone else had
Hit him on his head."

Oh, de Jury went out,
An' never came back.
Oh, de Jury went out,
An' never came back.
Thought I saw po' Lou,
Ridin' in her hack.

De Judge said, "Sister Lou,
Gonna turn you free.
Sister Lou," said de Judge,
"Gonna turn you free.
First gal I've seen who
Tol' de truth to me." 


Published in Saturday Evening Quill, 1928

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